CARSON, Calif. -- Could changes be in
store for the LA Galaxy after Tuesday's horrid first-half performance
in Mexico?

A player hinted at lineup alterations
as LA transitioned from the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final
defeat to Club Tijuana toward Saturday afternoon's rematch with Real
Salt Lake, the team that beat them in the Major League Soccer opener
two weeks ago.

Several players, particularly defenders
James Riley and Leonardo, fared poorly in Tuesday's game, in which
Tijuana scored in the first, ninth and 26th minutes en route to a 4-2
triumph than erased the Galaxy's 1-0 first-leg advantage. LA played
much better in the second half and at game's end needed just one goal
to advance to the semi-finals.

That game, more so than the home loss
to RSL, is on the Galaxy's minds as they return to league action
after taking last week off, but the remnants of the March 8 opener
remain present. LA dominated the game, outshot RSL, 27-9, and created
more than a dozen scoring opportunities, but Nick Rimando's stunning
showing in the nets and Joao Plata's finish when he was left alone in
the box gave the visitors a 1-0 triumph.

A little unfinished business, perhaps?

“Yeah, without a doubt,” said left
back Todd Dunivant. “They obviously knocked us out [in the Western
Conference semifinals] last year, and [in the opener] they kind of
stole the game at the end, and it's on us to concentrate the whole
time.

“And there were some bad calls that
went our way, too, so you can't really say it's a bad result, in a
way. They probably did enough to win that game. [This is] a big one
for us.”

Tuesday's first-half performance is
much fresher, so it resonates more loudly.

“We're frustrated,” said forward
Rob Friend, whose entrance at halftime enabled the Galaxy to play
more directly, sparking a fine second-half showing. “We're
obviously a little bit annoyed with that performance, and it's great
we get to rebound so quickly. ... As a soccer player, you just want
to play right away after a performance like that, and we're lucky
enough to get a game on Saturday. We know it's not going to be an
easy game, but if we go in with the right mentality, which we should
after a performance and a loss like [that against Tijuana], I think
we're all confident of getting a good result.”

They're looking for a performance more
in line with that from their first RSL meeting.

“We just want to play well,” Landon
Donovan said. “What's more fresh in our mind is [the loss to
Tijuana], and the way we started that game as not indicative of the
team we are. We're very talented, we know that -- we have a number of
guys that can make plays on both sides of the field -- but if we'd
don't compete, we can get beat, especially against good teams.

“Tijuana's a very good team. Salt
Lake's a very good team. Maybe against some other teams during the
year you don't play your best and you can still get by, or you don't
play as hard and you can still get by. Not in these games. If we
don't compete Saturday, we're not going to win the game.”

So, who is going to be competing for
the Galaxy? Head coach Bruce Arena, who has used an identical lineup
in all three competitive games this year, has plenty of options after
signing veteran depth all over the field during the offseason. He
doesn't discuss such things. A.J. DeLaGarza, however, hinted at
changes.

“I'm not sure what's going to happen
just yet. Sure you'll find out pretty soon, on Saturday,” the right
back said. “I mean, a couple of us know what's going on, so get
everyone on the same page defense- and attack-wise.”

Dunivant, who made his season debut in
the second half against Tijuana after missing the end of preseason
with a hamstring strain, appears certain to reclaim his spot from
Riley. Friend made a strong argument for a start up top, but tactics
could favor Brazilian Samuel as Robbie Keane's partner, or Arena
could opt for Landon Donovan or Gyasi Zardes and give Swedish
midfielder Stefan Ishizaki his first start.

Leonardo could fall out at center back,
but Kofi Opare, his primary competition for the job next to Omar
Gonzalez, has been dealing with an abductor injury. Options remain:
Dan Gargan could go to right back, with DeLaGarza in the center.

Donovan says what's most important is
to have the correct mentality.

“We watched tape from the Tijuana
game, and we realized where we let ourselves down,” he said. “It's
not necessarily that we didn't have the quality they have, they just
wanted it more. And so Salt Lake, it's their opener, they're going to
be excited, they've been resting all week and preparing for us, so we
have to expect it's going to be the same way [with RSL's desire].

“If our mentality is better from the
start, we're very capable of getting a result there. I think the guys
are actually fired up, disappointed from Tuesday, and we want to go
out in a really good performance in Salt Lake.”